Method of making an electrical contact device

Abstract

The invention provides a method of forming an electrical contact device and a pre-assembly for producing the electrical contact device. The electrical contact device is formed by providing a conducting frame and an insulating frame which is added to predetermined portions of the conducting frame to form the pre-assembly. A plurality of fine pitch electrical leads are disposed in parallel spaced apart relation and connected to each other by connecting strips. An insulating material is applied to the conducting frame to form the insulating frame. The insulating frame encapsulates portions of the electrical leads which extend from opposite sides of the center of the insulating frame retaining, therefore, the electrical leads in position and electrically isolated from one another. Portions of the conducting frame are then removed from the pre-assembly to obtain the electrical device.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of making an electrical contact device comprising the steps of: 
       forming a plurality of spaced apart electrical leads held in position relative to each other by at least two connecting strips, said at least two connecting strips extending between adjacent leads;  
       forming insulating material along and between a longitudinal length of, said at least two connecting strips such that said at least two connecting strips are fully exposed; and  
       subsequently removing portions of said at least two connecting strips located between adjacent leads.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of spaced apart electrical leads and said at least two connecting strips are formed of the same conductive material. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of removing at least two connecting strips includes the step of electrically isolating adjacent leads. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of bending said electrical leads into a predetermined configuration.